Undulating rectal flushing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for the irrigation of the intestines and colon and the cleansing of the rectum of a person seated in a comfortable position on an apertured seat with an undulating stream of warm water injected by an enema tip vertically reciprocating in and out of the rectum, allowing simultaneous intermittent discharge of waste products therefrom, coupled with an oscillating nozzle for spraying the anal area of the patient with warm water and a waste pan for the disposal of the discharge therefrom.

United States Patent 1 1 Bindel 1 Oct. 2, 1973 [54] UNDULATING RECTAL FLUSHING 3,042,039 7/1962 Dahlstrom 128/227 APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Paul H. Bindel, 3946 W. North Ave., 'f' Exami'IeFRiChaTd Gaudet Chicago, 111. 60647 Assistant Exammer-'-J. Yasko AttorneyCharles W. Rummler et al. [22] Filed: July 12, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A method and an apparatus for the irrigation of the in- 152] :LS. Cll. 128922; testines and Cokm and the cleansing of the rectum of [g 1 A6lm /2 a person Seated in a comfortable position on an aper 8] d 0 128/230 2 tured seat with an undulating stream of warm water in- 128/228 66 jected by an enema tip vertically reciprocating in and 56 R f out of the rectum, allowing simultaneous intermittent I 1 e erences C'ted discharge of waste products therefrom, coupled with an UNITED STATES PATENTS oscillating nozzle for spraying the anal area of the pa- 1,983,293 12/1934 Hudgings 128/227 tient with warm water and a waste pan for the disposal 3,678,932 7/1972 Hudson 128/227 of the discharge therefrom. 2,478,876 8/1949 Nelson 128/227 2,506,183 5/1950 Touchberry 128/227 X 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures /30 v i6 /;1 11 l1 0 TI'H Ill 0 h PATENTEDUBT'ZIQB 3.762.410

SHEET 1 [1F 2 PATENTEDBET'ZIW v 3.762.410

sum 20F 2 1 UNDULATING RECTAL FLUSIIING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People of all ages who have chronic constipation, ulcerous intestines or general inflammation of the intestines and colon, or who are recovering from surgery involving the cutting out of a portion of the colon or intestine affected, all require cleansing of the intestine and colon on a regular basis for therapeutic purposes. Irrigation of the bowel of the reclining patient with a batch rectal injection of a controlled quantity of warm water from a graduated irrigator has been the past practice. There is no or little discharge of waste from the patients anus at the time of the batch injection. The patient must dispose of the waste product subsequently seated on a stool in the conventional manner. There is no undulatory cleansing flow of warm water into and through the intestine and out ofthe anus on a continuous flushing basis in the enema process.

The therapeutic benefits of massaging the muscles in the anal area by the injection of an irrigant into the rectum of a reclining patient are well established. The increased soothing and relaxing effect on these muscles as attained bythe undulant injection of an irrigant into the rectum of a seated person by an enema tip which reciprocates in and out therein, along with the increased cleansing of the colon between the descending portion of the intestine and the rectum achieved by simultaneous intermittent injection of fresh warm water and simultaneous discharge of waste products therefrom, are novel proven benefits not generally available heretofore.

There is thus an established need for anapparatus that will cleanse the rectum and descending intestine with an undulating flow of warmwater while the patient is seated in a normal comfortable position and simultaneously dispose of the waste products in a convenient and sanitary manner therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method of this invention lies in theirrigation of the colon and intestine of a patient who is seated in a normal comfortable position with an undulating jet stream of warm water which is injected by an enema tip which reciprocates in and out of the rectum of the patient. This intermittent injection of the irrigant allows almost simultaneous and alternatedischarge of the resultant waste products therefrom. An oscillating spray of warm water is concurrently applied to the anal area of the patient for the cleansing thereof and relaxingthe muscles therearound.

The gist of the apparatus of this invention liesin a seat frame which centrally mounts in a seat aperture, a vertically reciprocating enema tip for intermittent injection of a jet stream of warm water into the colon and intestine of the patient seated thereon and for the alternate discharge of waste products therefrom, and below the seat aperture an oscillating spray nozzlefor the bodily cleansing of the patients anus area and means for the collection of and disposal of waste products therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the seat and vertically reciprocating enema tip and the oscillating spray nozzle of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the relation of the enema tip for rectal injection and the spray nozzle for anal cleansing together with the flow baffles;

FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the cam and link mechanism for vertically reciprocating the enema tip and oscillating the anal spray nozzle;

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the mechanism for vertically reciprocating the enema tip and oscillating the anal spray nozzle;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the mechanism for vertically reciprocating the enema tip and oscillating the anal spray nozzle; and

FIG. 6 shows a fragmentary top view of the worm driven cam mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, the rectal liquid soothing and cleansing apparatus of this invention comprises a base frame 10 having a floor member 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a plurality of legs 12 for sitting on the floor, a seat member 14 mounted atop the frame. An aperture 18 is centrally disposed in and toward the rear of the seat member 14. A rectal soothing and cleansing means 20 protrudes upwardly through the aperture 18 for the therapeutic injection of warm water into and on the rectum of a patient seated on the seat 14. A waste product sheet metal baffle 24 is in fluid communication with and below the rectal cleansing means for collecting the waste products therefrom,. which baffle terminates at the discharge opening 26 in the floor member 11 and is in fluid communication with a disposal unit (not shown) for ready disposition.

.Referring to FIG. 2, the rectal soothing and cleansing means20 comprises an operating mechanism 30 which is mounted to the rear wall 16 of frame 10 and generally shielded by the baffle 24. A vertically reciprocating enema tip 28 is operationally mounted to the mechanism 30 to protrude through the aperture 18 and above the top plane of the seat 14 for the injection of the jet stream of warmwater upward into the rectum of the patient. An oscillating nozzle 32 which is located adjacent to and below the enema tip 28 is also operationally mounted to the mechanism 30 for oscillatory spraying of the anal area of the patient with warm water.

Referring to FIG. 3, mechanism 30 comprises a verticallyreciprocating mechanism 34 which vertically reciprocates the enema tip 28 and oscillates the spray nozzle 32. The vertically reciprocating mechanism 34 comprises a motor 36, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which is mounted to one side of the base frame 10. A guide sleeve support bracket 38 is mounted to the frame 10 and extends downwardly and diagonally inward. A worm shaft sleeve 40, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, is straddle mounted adjacent the upper end of the bracket 38 at one end and to the frame 10 at the other end.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, a pedestal 44 is mounted to the floor member 11 and covered by both a pan 22, only partially visible in FIG. 2, and the baffle 24. A pylon 46 is mounted atop the pedestal 44 extending upward therefrom. A worm shaft 42 is rotationally mounted through the sleeve 40 and operationally connected at one end to the drive shaft of motor 36 and at the other end is mounted to rotate in a bearing in the upper end of pylon 46. A worm thread 48 is cut in the worm shaft 42, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Spaced trunion mounts are mounted atop the pedestal 44 having their trunion axis located offset from and perpendicular to the drive shaft 42. Worm gear support shaft 52 is straddle mounted in trunion mounts 50. Worm gear 54 is fixedly mounted to rotate with shaft 52 between trunion mounts 50 and operationally engages the worm threads 48 on shaft 42. A circular cam 56 (see FIG. 5) having a plurality of lobes 58 thereon is fixedly mounted to rotate with shaft 52 and covered by the pan 22 (see broken lines in FIG. 5) and adjacent to the back member 16 and also partially covered by the baffle 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 (in broken lines). The cam 56 comprises preferably a series of eight lobes 58 with each one having a curved rising face 57 and a radial falling face 57a on the other side.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, spaced bar or guide ways 60 which are mounted to the back member 16 of the frame 10 slidingly support a slider bar 62 for reciprocative movement in a vertical direction. A cam follower 64 is medially mounted on the inner face adjacent to the lower end of the slider 62 and operationally engages the surface of the cam lobe faces 57 and 57a for the vertically reciprocative movement in the rise and fall thereof as the cam moves clockwise in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5. A cross arm 66 is horizontally mounted at a point intermediate its two ends to the upper end of the slider bar 62 adjacent to and parallel with the back member 16. A gravity return member 67 is fixedly mounted to one end of cross arm 66, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, for assisting the fall of the slider bar 62 when cam follower 64 engages the cam radial falling surface 57a.

An enema tip support tube bracket 68 is fixedly mounted adjacent to the other end of the cross arm 66 and extends in a vertical plane. The enema tip 28 is mounted in the support bracket 68 and protrudes slightly above the seat 14 through the aperture 18 to vertically reciprocate in response to the cooperation of the cam follower 64 with the rotating cam lobes 58.

A first flexible tube 70, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, is in fluid connection with the downwardly projecting inlet end 29 of the enema tip 28 and extending downwardly through the tube 25 in baffle 24 and outwardly through an aperture 72 in the floor member 11. The opposite end of the tube is connected to a supply of warm water (not shown) and having suitable valves to control the water pressure.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a curved pivot support bar 73 is mounted at opposite ends to the pan 22 against the back member 16 by through bolts 74 securing the ends thereto. A pivot shaft 76, as shown in FIG. 4, is pivotally mounted to the bar 73 adjacent to and below the enema tip 28 and on the side thereof opposite cross arm 66 between the bolts 74 and horizontally extends in a direction inwardly from and perpendicular to the back member 16. A lever which has one end fixedly mounted to the pivot shaft 76 extends in the direction of cross arm 66 parallel to the back member 16. A link 82 is pivotally mounted to the other end of lever 80 and to the cross arm 66 for pivotally oscillating the pivot member 76 in a plane parallel to the back member 16 as the cross arm 66 is reciprocated vertically by the rise and fall of the cam follower 64 on the lobes 58 of circular cam 56.

Referring again to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a spray nozzle clip 78 is fixedly secured to the free end of the shaft 76.

The spray nozzle 32 which has jet spray tubes 86 extending in a generally vertical direction from one end thereof is mounted in the clip 78. A second flexible tube 88 is in fluid communication with the inlet end of the spray nozzle 32 and extends through an aperture 90 in the back member 16 of the frame 10. A pressure regulator (not shown) is also associated with the tube 88 for controlling the pressure of warm water flowing through the nozzles 86. A shiftable arm 94 is reciprocably mounted on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the clip 78, and provided with an arcuate upper face 96 whereby to wedge the tube 88 in the clip by movement from the positon shown in FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5.

In the operation of the method of undulating rectal flushing of this invention, a person sists on the seat 14 inserting the enema tip 28 which projects above the top surface thereof into the posterior opening of his alimentary canal. Warm water for irrigating the colon and cleansing the rectum is then supplied to the enema tip 28 for injection therein as a low-velocity jet therefrom and to nozzle 32 for the spraying of the anus area. After equilibrium of temperature and flow has been attained, the prime mover or motor 36 is electrically connected to a volt A.C. electrical power bus by closing toggle switch 37 which is mounted to the base frame 10 within easy reach by the person being treated. The operating mechanism 30 is thus energized and enema tip 28 which is operatively connected thereto beings its undulating motion in and out of the rectum injecting the soft jet of warm water therein and allowing for simultaneous intermittent discharge of waste products therefrom, and nozzle 32 which is also operatively connected thereto to oscillate back and forth across the anal area spraying soft warm water thereon.

Upon the completion of the treatment, the switch 37 is opened and the electrical circuit connecting the prime mover 36 to the power bus is broken terminating the undulating motion of the enema tip 28 and the oscillating motion on spray nozzle 32. The flow of warm water thereto is then terminated and the person having received the full benefit of the treatment is free to arise from seat 14.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the irrigation of the colon and the intestines and the cleaning of the rectum of a person comprising:

a. a base frame,

b. an apertured seat member mounted on top of the frame,

c. a waste product pan mounted on the frame below the aperture of the seat and having internal baffling therein and a discharge duct therefrom,

d. a first drive means mounted to the frame and having a vertically-mounted reciprocating output therefrom,

e. a second drive means mounted to the frame and having a pivotally-mounted horizontal oscillating output therefrom,

f. an enema tip mounted to the vertically reciprocative output of the first drive means directed gener- 6 ally upward and protruding through and above the faces of the cam lobes, seat aperture, g. a cross arm fixedly mounted on the top end of the g. a spray nozzle mounted to the horizontal oscillatv slide bar,

ing output of the second drive means directed genh. an enema tip bracket mounted on the cross arm, erally upward from below the seat aperture, and 5 and h. a source of warm fluid in fluid connection with the i. an enema tip mounted in the bracket and directed enema tip and the spray nozzle. to jet warm fluid vertically for vertically reciproca- 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a first tive motion relative to the frame. drive means comprising: 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a seea. a prime mover mounted to the frame, 10 0nd drive means comprising: b. a drive gear operationally connected to the prime a. a spray nozzle pivotally mounted to the frame mover having an output shaft, below and adjacent to the enema tip and directed c. a circular cam having a plurality of lobes fixedly to spray warm fluid generally vertically upward,

mounted on the output shaft, each lobe having a b. a lever having one end fixedly mounted to the nozcurved rising work face and a radial falling work zle and extending in a horizontal direction, and face, c. a link having one end pivotally mounted to the d. a pair of spaced guide bars mounted to the frame, other end of the lever and its other end pivotally e. a slide bar slidably mounted between the spaced mounted to the cross arm whereby a vertically reguide bars and having a top end, ciprocative motion of the cross arm pivotally oscilf. a cam follower mounted on the lower end of said lates the spray nozzle.

slide bar and operationally contacting the working 

1. An apparatus for the irrigation of the colon and the intestines and the cleaning of the rectum of a person comprising: a. a base frame, b. an apertured seat member mounted on top of the frame, c. a waste product pan mounted on the frame below the aperture of the seat and having internal baffling therein and a discharge duct therefrom, d. a first drive means mounted to the frame and having a vertically-mounted reciprocating output therefrom, e. a second drive means mounted to the frame and having a pivotally-mounted horizontal oscillating output therefrom, f. an enema tip mounted to the vertically reciprocative output of the first drive means directed generally upward and protruding through and above the seat aperture, g. a spray nozzle mounted to the horizontal oscillating output of the second drive means directed generally upward from below the seat aperture, and h. a source of warm fluid in fluid connection with the enema tip and the spray nozzle.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a first drive means comprising: a. a prime mover mounted to the frame, b. a drive gear operationally connected to the prime mover having an output shaft, c. a circular cam having a plurality of lobes fixedly mounted on the output shaft, each lobe having a curved rising work face and a radial falling work face, d. a pair of spaced guide bars mounted to the frame, e. a slide bar slidably mounted between the spaced guide bars and having a top end, f. a cam follower mounted on the lower end of said slide bar and operationally contacting the working faces of the cam lobes, g. a cross arm fixedly mounted on the top end of the slide bar, h. an enema tip bracket mounted on the cross arm, and i. an enema tip mounted in the bracket and directed to jet warm fluid vertically for vertically reciprocative motion relative to the frame.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a second drive means comprising: a. a spray nozzle pivotally mounted to the frame below and adjacent to the enema tip and directed to spray warm fluid generally vertically upward, b. a lever having one end fixedly mounted to the nozzle and extending in a horizontal direction, and c. a link having one end pivotally mounted to the other end of the lever and its other end pivotally mounted to the cross arm whereby a vertically reciprocative motion Of the cross arm pivotally oscillates the spray nozzle. 